Alas, Georgia’s coaching is no longer championship-caliber
It was another hair-raising loss for UGA and Mark Richt. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
On Oct. 27, 2007, Knowshon Moreno scored to give Georgia a 7-0 lead against Florida, prompting the Bulldogs’ semi-planned and twice-penalized on-field celebration. What you knew: Georgia won that day 42-30, marking the only time Mark Richt’s team has beaten Urban Meyer’s.
What you didn’t know: The day of the Gator Stomp marked the first and last time — in six tries, mind you — a Richt team has taken a lead on Meyer’s.
As disheartening as Richt being 1-5 against Meyer is, the repeated failure to nose ahead even 3-0 is more alarming. It’s a direct reflection of coaching, or the lack thereof. Rule 1 in the Coaching Manual: Get your team ready to play. Sad to say, the Bulldogs under Richt are rarely ready.
Say what you will about Meyer, but the man can coach. His work against Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz., in January 2007 was the greatest coaching performance the BCS title game has ever seen, and his work against Georgia on Saturday was no less inspired. In Jacksonville he took the demonstrably lesser team — anybody see an A.J. Green or a Justin Houston or even an Aaron Murray or an Orson Charles among Gators? — and wrung 450 yards and 34 points from it. Meyer tried everything. Richt’s team tried running the ball on second-and-10 in overtime.
The best you can say about Richt’s coaching is that his players didn’t quit when they fell behind. That’s surely because they’ve had so much practice: Georgia hasn’t led in any of its four SEC losses. South Carolina and Arkansas took the ball first and drove to touchdowns. Georgia took the ball against Mississippi State and went three-and0ut; on Saturday Murray threw an interception on the first snap.
We once considered Richt a splendid gameday coach, but that time is gone. Georgia was 52-13 in Richt’s first five season, reaching the SEC title game three times and winning it twice. It’s 42-19 since. Not coincidentally, Richt’s decline dovetails with Meyer’s rise. (Although it must be noted that Richt has a losing record against three Florida coaches: He was 0-1 against Steve Spurrier, 1-2 against Ron Zook.)
There’s still great talent at Georgia — the old Spurrier knock on Ray Goff now attaches itself to this coach: “Georgia gets all these players; I don’t know what happens to them” — but the coaching has fallen below SEC standards. If we’re looking for the sea-change game, we need underscore Sept. 27, 2008, the night Nick Saban and Alabama came to Athens and not only jumped ahead but led by 31 points after 30 minutes.
Back to Saturday: The Bulldogs got the ball to start overtime, which means the worst they should have done was gain no yards and let Blair Walsh try a 42-yard field goal to put them ahead. Instead Murray threw the ball into stacked coverage and saw the Gators nearly end the game without having to play offense. Murray has had a terrific freshman season and had a fabulous second half, but in the season’s biggest moment he made the one play a quarterback cannot make.
That’s what Georgia under Richt has come to do: It makes the one play to lose a game, as opposed to David Greene throwing to Verron Haynes in Knoxville or to Michael Johnson in Auburn. (Or even Matthew Stafford throwing to Mikey Henderson in Tuscaloosa.) Georgia under Richt has become the toothless tiger — the team everyone respects but nobody fears.
Richt’s 10-year body of work stands as a mighty argument for administrative patience. More current events suggest the Richt of 2010 isn’t the Richt of yesteryear. It took four full seasons under this coach and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder for Georgia to lose 10 games. The Bulldogs lost five times last year, changed defensive coordinators and have already lost five times this.
And now Richt’s gifted Bulldogs have fallen to the worst Florida team Meyer has fielded. In a year where the SEC East was ripe for a young team to rise up and march to the Georgia Dome, that team will not be Mark Richt’s. He’s no longer a championship coach. Dating back to Nov. 29, 2008, his Bulldogs are 13-11, which means he’s barely even a winning coach.
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1,352 comments Add your comment
RW Gweed
November 1st, 2010
12:37 pm
The defense is making great strides? Are you kidding me? We are inconsistent on both sides of the ball. We should have played Vandy 12 times this year.
Pulpwood Smith
November 1st, 2010
12:38 pm
… but these players have to be held accountable for their actions too!
How? Make them go to class or something silly like that?
three jack
November 1st, 2010
12:41 pm
the dawgs record since Larry Munson retired on 9/22/08:
16-13
come back Larry!
DAWG H8R
November 1st, 2010
12:42 pm
Dawgs haven’t been coached since Richt has been here!
THEY DON”T HAVE TOP FIVE RECRUITING CLASSES ANYMORE!
When the hell is dawgnation gonna see the forest despite the trees.
Amos Alonzo Stagg
November 1st, 2010
12:42 pm
And Vice Dooley, Pat Dye, Bear Bryant, Johnny Majors, Charlie Pell, and other pre-BCS coaches were never beholden to any silly fill-in-the-blank (mascot) “nation”. Nor did they serve at the pleasure of the A.D. They recruited athletes far superior to Mississippi State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and basically played in a four-team September – November tournament to determine who spent New Year’s Day in New Orleans. The game has changed, folks, and with it the very concept of a championship caliber coach. Ask the folks at ND, Penn State or Michigan.
BaseballBuff
November 1st, 2010
12:45 pm
I can’t believe we’ve fallen this low, after CMR showed up determined to “blow the lid off this program.” Richt has probably never been an outstanding head coach with regard to game strategy. His flaws are simply showing up more now that he has a less-talented team. Meyer had an outstanding game plan and totally out-coached Richt. This having been said, Richt’s body of work over 10 years is still good. He is still learning and will turn it around by next season I would bet. GO DAWGS!!!
Disgusted DAWG
November 1st, 2010
12:45 pm
CMR apologists need to realize that the problem as a whole starts from the top, i.e the HEAD COACH.
He chooses and hires his coaching staff. He along with the staff are in charge of recruiting and developing players. Even though we continue to have “ranked” recruiting classes, some say we don’t have the right players. Well whose fault is that?
If we do have the right players and they are not being developed to their potential level, whose fault his that?
Whose job is it to coach and have a game plan each week?
Once again, CMR and his staff.
CMR has done some great things at UGA, but in the last few years he has seemed to not only plateau but regress as well.
He will get another year, but if his overall approach doesn’t change, expect the same results.
Its that simple folks, status quo is taking us further and further backwards as a program. CMR is a good man at heart, but it might be time for him to be a deacon or something in the church.
We played close but no cigar………. And that is not going to cut it when you look at the amount of money that the fans pour into Athens to support the program.
Jimmy Carter
November 1st, 2010
12:45 pm
UGA is to football the same as I am to the Presidency.
Shankit
November 1st, 2010
12:51 pm
I think Richt is at least an equal coach to Meyer.
Meyer’s record and coaching has not been impressive
since he lost his OC and DC, and Superman….
Richt needs to hire Leach as his OC and he will
overnight be looked at as a coaching genius.
The head coach is only as good as the staff
he surrounds himself with….
Bubba Dawg
November 1st, 2010
12:51 pm
Me and Lulu whant able to git to jacksonville; we was at the tractor pull in Hahira. How much did we stomp the gators by?
Shankit
November 1st, 2010
1:05 pm
It wasn’t coaching, BoBo, Murray, turnovers that lost the game.
The game wound up in a tie.
Florida’s lucky coin toss call won the game, when they
had the advantage to see Georgia screw up their
opportunity, and kick a field goal….
T Barnett
November 1st, 2010
1:06 pm
Well I hope all you Toothless DAWGS say home nexted year too,I was able to sit (STAND) in the shade all game long (thanks for the tickets) it’s aready feeling more like a home game 18 out of the last 21 and Burton’s just a true freshman
Dawg Gonnit
November 1st, 2010
1:08 pm
There comes a time when the players have to execute. Our players have to step up and make a play. It doesn’t all fall on Richt’s shoulders.
The play-calling should have been better, especially in OT. We have a RFreshman QB who is going to make mistakes but he is going to be an excellent QB for UGA. Turnovers killed us again, but a play here or there (missed catches on O and D)and Georgia wins. Face it, Richt isn’t going anywhere until after next year if things don’t improve greatly. So in the meantime, let’s beat Idaho St, and Auburn and GT and then win the bowlgame and head into next season ona positive note..I still support my team. GO DAWGS!!!
Golden Dawg: UGA will win 2011 NCAA Football National Champioship
November 1st, 2010
1:09 pm
When the Dawgs were 1-4 (0-3 SEC), I predicted that we’d arrive in Florida with a shot at the SEC East Title. Go back and read “Golden Dawg” Sept 2010 post. I was one of the first to foresee the Bulldogs’ rise and how the rugged SEC would wear down Florida and to be South Carolina. I love Georgia. And my faith in their success is supported by the facts. My point is I have credibility.
Now, my next prediction – just like my SEPT 2010 prediction- may also seem far-fetched. However, if a few critical pieces fall into place, THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS will be 2011 NCAA National Champions.
#1. Look at the schedule: No SEC West Heavyweights (except Auburn, probably and hopefully minus Cam Newton); An Open Date before Jacksonville; Only four away games (plus Jacksonville); and a NM St game before Auburn (in Athens); plus two creditable non-conference opponents.
Louisville – 9/3/2011 – Win: 1-0
South Carolina – 9/10/2011 – Win: 2-0
Coastal Carolina – 9/17/2011 – Win: 3-0
at Mississippi – 9/24/2011 – Win: 4-0
Mississippi State 10/1/2011 – Win: 5-0
at Tennessee – 10/8/2011- Win: 6-0
at Vanderbilt – 10/15/2011- Win: 7-0
Open – 10/22/2011
Florida* – 10/29/2011- Win: 8-0
New Mexico State – 11/5/2011- Win: 9-0
Auburn – 11/12/2011- Win: 10-0
Kentucky – 11/19/2011- Win: 11-0
at Georgia Tech – 11/26/2011- Win: 12-0
SEC Championship – 12/3/2011- Win: 13-0
#2 – A few pieces will hopefully fall into place:
a. Houston and AJ Green come back for one more year (can’t count on that and you can’t blame them for heading to the NFL;
b. Continued stellar play from future all NCAA QB #11 A. Murray– , and
c. we need to keep get RB Mr. Crowell from Columbus in Georgia (to seal the deal).
d. Plus, it would help a little if the old Mark Richt resumed calling his own plays (I love Mike, so I’m not on the fire Bobo bandwagon – he was/is a fabulous QB Coach. But Richt beat Florida regularly while he was at FSU, when HE was running the offense.)
e. Finally, the players have to man up and stay out of trouble.
#3 – Look at the other guys schedules: Florida plays LSU, at Alabama and at Auburn (BACK to BACK to BACK) and WILL lose at least two, probably all three. Tennessee will still be down and South Carolina will be one-dimensional.
The Dawgs have made tremendous improvement since earlier this season. The offense is clicking and defense is working together. Simply put: UGA will be unstoppable in 2011.
Just Remember: You heard it from “Golden Dawg” First.
Rob
November 1st, 2010
1:10 pm
Why do the Georgia fans keep comparing CMR to Bear Bryant, Joe Paterno, Nick Saben, Vince Dooley, Bobby Bowden, etc. Those coaches have won National Championships. CMR is not in their class; stop comparing them. Fire him and find a Coach who will instill discipline on the Ga players!
KO
November 1st, 2010
1:12 pm
Look, first of all Florida had two weeks to prepare for this game. They came out with a totally new offensive scheme which I’m sure caught the Dawgs off guard. Secondly, and I’m sure he will agree with this, Murray had a terrible first half and an off and on second half. But, the kid is a freshman for crying out loud. Thirdly, I thought the offensive scheme was good enough to win the game if it had been executed correctly. It was a heartbreaking loss, especially if you were there like I was. I was proud of the way our boys fought back and nearly stole the game from the Gators. Lastly, firing Richt is not the answer. This year may be one of the worst years in UGA history, but, if I recall correctly, even Dooley had some pretty lean years. I say we should show our support for our coach and provide encouragement to him and our players. Mark, you seem to be a fair weather fan that likes to stir up unecessary discouragement in a time when they desparately need our undying loyalty and devotion. You praise Richt when the team is winning and you kick him when the team loses. Glory to ‘ol Georgia and to hell with you Mark Bradley.
Timbo
November 1st, 2010
1:12 pm
Give Mark a break! Those critical need to wake up and smell the coffee – spend some time with your family. Have a good day!
With or Without Tebow
November 1st, 2010
1:14 pm
I was really hoping you guys would score first. I was looking forward to this year’s group celebration dance routine!
Artie
November 1st, 2010
1:15 pm
I want what Golden Dawg is smokin’!!!!!
gomdawg
November 1st, 2010
1:15 pm
I’M TIRED OF HEARING YOU DOWN GRADE OUR COACH HE IS OUR COACH , WHEN HE WINS A NATIONAL CHAP. GAME GET ON BAND WAGON YOU 2 FACE SOG
Artie
November 1st, 2010
1:17 pm
As long as Saban and Meyer are in the SEC, the Dogs win NOT win the SEC let alone the national title!!!!!
gomdawg
November 1st, 2010
1:22 pm
SABAN AND MEYER ARE GOOD COACHES BUT I’LL TAKE CMR ANY DAY. TWO SABAN WILL BE IN DALLAS AND MEYERS WHO KNOWS. THE NEXT THREE YEARS WILL BE FUN FOR GEORGIA FAN, WAIT AND SEE. WE HAVE A DAMN GOOD QB AND ALOTS OF TALENT AROUND HIM.
Artie
November 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
Golden Dawg…your “theory” was not worth reading beyond the point of A. J. Green possibly staying.
Rock The Casbah
November 1st, 2010
1:24 pm
Georgia was down by 14 at half and came back to send it into OT. It was an exciting game, no doubt. One play here or there and UGA wins. That’s the way it goes..Aron White actually catches the ball, or Rambo actually catches the ball, or we actually recover a fumble, etc, etc, and UGA wins the game. Richt can’t make th eplays on the field, but that being said, if things don’t improve greatly next year I think Richt is gone before the 2012 season.
Artie
November 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
Blah, blah, blah…same ol’ sh*t from UGA fans…wait until next year. LMMFAO
T Barnett
November 1st, 2010
1:33 pm
To all those toothless DOGS , Thanks For The Great Seats , We were able to sit (STAND) in the shade all game long and watch a great game , we did have a few rude dawg fans behind my kids and me that could only comment on my daughters hair ,my son cheering ,us standing up, and these were older folks (I hope when they returned home they really thought about the DUMB stuff they were saying , the college kids beside us were UGA students , they were fun to sit by ( just friendly game jambing) their parents should be proud of them , but the ones behind us parents were probable rolling in their graves, (RESPECT) If the tickets were not for sell we could not have sat there (Ga. fans sold them) and no matter how the game turn out it was a great game , we all most had our on run Linsey, RUN WILL HILL, GATOR NATION OUT
Dawgs in 2011
November 1st, 2010
1:35 pm
The Dawgs are young! In 2011, with a bunch of experienced players, UGA should easily win the SEC east. Florida will be way down after losing a bunch of talent and usc will not have anything. The Dawgs will beat Alabama for the SEC title in 2011—mark it down!!!
rebeldawg
November 1st, 2010
1:35 pm
I said 10 years ago we do not need a Bobby Bowden Back up.Bobby let Deon show up in a limo.What is richts training.UGA is as good dollar wise as any school .Hire a head coach.If not get out of the sec.I love uga and have been a ticket holder for over 30 years.I give money just to get to buy tickets.LETS GET IT DONE.
Dawglover
November 1st, 2010
1:35 pm
Come on.. Gomdawg. You say 4 natl championships equal good coaches (2 each) but you would take CMR over them.. you must be valuing your coaches based on their faith, because that is the only thing CMR has over Urban or Saban.. and right now he needs to ask for some help out of the pulpit or else we may not even win enough to make birmingham our winter destination..
Timothy
November 1st, 2010
1:36 pm
I guess it could be worse, but we’re quickly becoming as irrelevant as Georgia Tech. At least we’re not TN but we aren’t that far behind them, really..
dawghater
November 1st, 2010
1:37 pm
4-5 and counting. Woof Woof
dawghater
November 1st, 2010
1:38 pm
Dear Timothy,
I so enjoyed my time in J’ville last weekend. Your the next Vandy not TN!
Timbo
November 1st, 2010
1:39 pm
I like him. I will like him better if UGA loses to Ga Tech.
dawghater
November 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
Dawgs in 2011 must still be drunk from the weekend. Delusional is not even a good word to describe his post!
Timothy
November 1st, 2010
1:41 pm
Thank God we’re not the next Georgia Tech!!
NCDawg
November 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Call Bobby
November 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
Mark needs to call his mentor, bobby bowden, on how to get all these 5 star thugs in the program and somehow keep them eligible for the big games and how to coach dirty in the rival games! Come on mark—bobby’s on vacation but will give you some advice if you pay him a speaking fee.
NCDawg
November 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
As much of a Richt supporter I am, I a eto say the numbers speak for themselves. However, I don’t think we should prematurely dismiss him. I still think he’s a great coach. He should have won Saturday — that’s all on him. I think given time, he will right the ship.
dawghater
November 1st, 2010
1:47 pm
I seem to remember all the UGA fans comments about SC State being an FCS school. Funny thing thought. SC State is a ranked school in the FCS with an excellent record. While UGA schedules Idaho State who’s record is 1-7 and last in their FCS league. Man that will be some fun in Athens at that game. UGA should pay Idaho State to wear Gator jerseys and helmets just to make the fans feel good.
$750,000 Salary
November 1st, 2010
1:47 pm
Grantham makes $750,000, more than any D-coordinator in the SEC, but his 3-4 D has been a bust. UF was moving the ball at will against Ga and their receivers were wide open most of the game. He should pay back about $700,000 of that salary to uga for doing nothing.
MrDan
November 1st, 2010
1:47 pm
Hey Bradley. Maybe if it’s as bad as you say, why don’t you just stay up in MA? And take about 2/3’s of these pinhead whiners with you.
dawghater
November 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
Dear Timothy,
Your players couldn’t get into GT!
UGA Dog..an actual graduate!!
November 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
If any of you of questionable breed could keep your eyes on the prize, then you would be planning for next year. As a pure bred UGA grad, I say give Mark a break, and do not forget about the past winning ten years. GO DOGS!
Fl/Stillman Dawg
November 1st, 2010
1:54 pm
CMR you just plain out stink as a coach.. This game in itself CLEARLY shows how you were out coached by a TRULY UNDERMANED TEAM.. If you couldn’t get it done today, my friend you will NEVER GET US TO ATL OR NC GAME. As the Christian man you are, be man enough and just step down. YOU CLEARLY DON”T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES ANYMORE……..You were good back in your early years because the SEC didn’t know what to expect from you and lot of those games won off pure talent.. Like Nike JUST DO IT (QUIT)
C'monMan
November 1st, 2010
1:55 pm
This is all coaching. Whose the only team in the counrty to have a top ten recruiting class each of the last ten years. “Georgia”. The talent is there. Two things have changed at GA since we stopped winning. Offensive and Defensive Coordinator. While I think Grantham will be fine, BoBo is terrible. Georgia no-longer hits in practice but plays mostly two hand touch. Shows on the field. You play like you practice. Defense very seldom raps up a defender. Mark Richt needs to go. He has lost this team and is not capable of getting it back.
Las Vegas Dawg
November 1st, 2010
1:57 pm
Year after year after year I spend thousands of dollars purchasing season tickets and supporting the Dawgs by going to all of the games in Athens and Jacksonville and taking a crew with me. This past Saturday I simply couldn’t take it anymore, I snapped. My brother-in-law is a big Florida Gator fan and I knew if we lost, after he told me they were the worst team Florida has had in 20+ years, I wouldn’t hear the end of it. I was right. After the first pass and interception I knew in my heart we were snakebit again and inevitably would lose. To deal with the frustration I screamed, “Not again, oh please God not another year like the past”. A fellow behind me told me “You just gotta have faith”. I told him “I have faith – faith we will lose this game just like the last and one before, I’ve seen it year after year after year”. He again expressed his neverending faith in Mark Richt. I told him if he had that much faith perhaps he would like to put some money behind it because I was willing to do so. He said sure, so we made a friendly wager – all the time hoping I would lose and not have to leave with my head bowed in shame again and hear about it later when I got home. Toward the end of the game as we caught up he reminded me that I just needed the faith to which I reminded him I still had faith – that we would find a way to lose. He obviously didn’t realize that based on the last 20 years we were a 5:1 odds of losing again (we’ve now lost 18 of the past 21 games). At the end of regulation I offered to let him off the hook but he declined saying he still believed. Needless to say, shortly after I turned around and collected the wager. I’ve never seen anyone so sick to their stomach as he was with the loss. I love my Dawgs and prove that by spending thousands of dollars and countless time yearly supporting their program. I do my part – I would just appreciate them doing their part for a change. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Keep Mark Richt another year and you can expect the same results – a program disintegrating to it’s core. Mark Richt is a good man but let’s be honest and get real, he needs his brother-in-law’s job as team chaplain and we need a real football coach. If Mark had a tenth of the passion for his job that his brother-in-law has for his we would already have a National Championship. I took the proceeds from the wager and took three of the young men that I brought to the game out to dinner for consolation. I did offer the gentleman a chance to get his money back by betting on next year’s game – I offered to take the Gators sight unseen, he declined. Dawg fans deserve better than we’ve gotten over the past several years!!!
Gator Nation
November 1st, 2010
1:58 pm
Meyer to Notre Dame
Mullen to Florida
I dig that
DAWGTAMER
November 1st, 2010
2:04 pm
If you get Green sell all the uniforms you may be able to afford a real coach , and let CMR go to preaching (he’s so nice)
still a dawg fan
November 1st, 2010
2:05 pm
We need to do a DNA check on CMR because I heard the real Mark Richt is in Africa on a mission & what we have is a Tommy Bowden clone that looks like CMR taking his place. The way our team has been playing reminds me of the way Clemson played during the Tommy Bowden era–it doesn’t matter how much talent we have we still find a way to loss
Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2010
2:06 pm
This article would have been totally different with a couple of different plays last Saturday.
Prediction for the future:
— Richt will be given one more year and it will be a good (but not great) year. Delusional Dawgs will continue to shed tears and think it is still 1980.
— FSU will under-achieve the rest of this year and again next year.
— Richt will jump at the chance to replace Jimbo Fisher.
— Delusional Dawgs will rejoice until they figure out two years later their replacement can’t hold a candle to Richt.